LesterOfPuppets

Here's the CL ad for my current project, guess it'll go into the MTB/Hybrid category.



Initial assembly:



Still need to do some magic ratio calculations and get some more singlespeed gear for it.

jetboy 

nice. + points for the cool frame

I cobbed mine together today trying to be careful and only use stuff I got for free. spent most the time trying to get that rear disk brake to align properly.

still got to take things apart and lube and clean, but proof of concept is on its way-



sorry for the non-drive side shot. I was trying to get the disk side.

kunsunoke 

Having a bunch of fresh hacksaw blades on hand will reduce the cursing even more.

Had to do this myself with the stem on our tandem - stuck fast, and penetrating oil wasn't working at all, so I got it out with hacksaw blades after some work with a Dremel tool. Not fun.

CliffordK

I'll continue working on my Mercier. Budget will go up a bit with the build, but hopefully I can keep it in check. I started stripping the paint today. So far no rust holes, although there seem to be some surface imperfections on the tubes that look like worms??? I can also feel the weld seam in the seat tube, no wonder it was hard on seatposts.

I think, however, I'll also throw this Duchess into the fray.

She was given to me for FREE to haul away. It had been sitting under a rotting tarp for a few years. It came with wheels, I think, and hopefully most of the original parts. Anyway, I'm targeting keeping the build-up costs to a minimum... Hopefully under $50? A dollar a pound? Do I have to put up with steel wheels?

USAZorro

I'm going way outside my usual box here. I found a frame I like the lines of that is a beast and needs a lot of love. Will consider the Klunker concept, but not sure what I will do with it beyond a sorely needed refinishing. Picked off the Harrisburg CL for $35.00. Single speed coaster brake as it sits now. Suspect it will evolve in a couple ways.



Had never heard of a StarJet DeLuxe before today.

D1andonlyDman

FYI, I took my Velo Cheapo entry on about a 15 mile ride around the hills of my mom's development. The bike does what it was designed to do, as, with the low gear of 27 gear inches on this bike, I had no real problem with the 12-15% grades of the worst hills in her area - I just went real slow.

jetboy 

made a little progress on elcheapo today. some cutting, some bolting, some fiddling.. its getting there. needs a few things.. liek a front brake....

Aubergine 

Great thread. I have a 1984-5 Peugeot Corbier and a 1970s Motobecane to play with right now, but I am afraid I could not call them "cheap." I like to build up old steel frames with nice 700c wheels and my favorite old cranks and friction derailleurs. Unfortunately for me, I have to find said favorite parts on eBay and the like. Oh well.

rgver

My hat in the ring is this 80's 531 with Huret D/Os framed Motobecane. I don't know model, year or original components. It's a euro model so doesn't match up to the US models. As much as I can tell it's a C42 but only maybe. Components now on it are a mishmash, Ofmega crank, campy shifters, suntour cyclone front and rear deraillers, Dia Compe 500 brakes SR stem and super champion Gentleman wheelset. The guy I bought it off said "I was gonna turn it into a fixie, but lost interest" not before the spay bomb hit it though

I feel like I overpaid at £40 but here it is



A quick go at the fork with thinner and fingernail flicked off what looked like bits of a Reynolds transfer with the paint and revealed lovely orange paint and good chrome so fingers crossed



I am fairly sure this will not be the budget builds I did for 2015 as I have moved country and still feeling out for sources of cheap parts, I am also building this to be my main bike as the lemond I brought with me was stolen leaving me bikeless. I may just totally blow budget and go silly with it but then I am usually too cheap to go that route.

oddjob2

Here is an update of the contributing bikes to my build, not including the not so mystery ZERO cost frame. It's too bad the rules don't recognize negative equity.

Donor Bikes (-$350) cost
2001 Lemond Nevada City
1987 Centurion Iron Man Expert "Miami Vice"
1992 Cannondale R800

I still need to come up with bearings, cables, housing, bar tape, chain, and a saddle.

oddjob2

Progress to date. Pic if from the non-drive side on purpose.
Also, while a wee bit narrow at 5', a plastic shower curtain makes a fabulous wrinkle free white backdrop when you don't wish to go outside or buy a roll of seamless background. They're $3 new at Target, but the holes don't have grommets. The one below is used and is hung from a gas line with bungee cords. You might try taping 2 together for a wider backdrop.

rgver

Well my build has taken on new considerations. In a thread to ID the bike it has been determined to be a top of the line C5 model, euro equivalent of a team champion so there's my budget gone just thinking of building it up as befits the frame

CliffordK

Its perfectly fine, as long as you build it up into a Fixie and ride it backwards for 350 miles.

CliffordK

Uhhh

Happened to me last year.

I had my bars, stem, and stem shifters picked out and ready to go. Left-overs from a gifted bike.



Then as I progressed with my build, I just couldn't bring myself to put them onto the bike.

It still is very much of a Frankenbuild. But, I like the end result. It is my dedicated "rain bike", and I had it out for 40 miles today. And, got rained on several times last week

CliffordK

Progress has been slow with my projects.
Looking at the Duchess above #29 it is such a horrible, horrible frame, that I've decided I can't use it at the moment. Maybe on the next project. Even the seat tube is bent

So, back to the drawing board on my "fun build".

I found this Schwinn World Sport frame at the local Co-op for $40. Fully lugged, but VERY HEAVY.



It should make a good enough foundation for the build.

nlerner

Well, my project has moved along. I started with this:



which I later discovered to be a Centurion Lemans RS. That fork went on a different project, so I pulled a fairly crappy chromed fork out of the bin, added paint, and ended up with this:





I actually built it up this morning and took it for a test ride, but need to do some tweaking. One issue is that a 28mm Pasela tire doesn't have enough clearance under the rear brake. I have to go skinnier. That's kind of a disappointment.

Henry III

I'll jump in! Oddjobs2 posted up the Cannondale pre Black Lightning I traded with him for a early 70's Holdsworth Cyclone. The Cannondale only cost me $15. So I'm off to good start. I had a few Brooks saddles I've been keeping for projects like this like as he kept the Ideale saddle.

$15 Cannondale traded for Holdsworth Cyclone
Jagwire cable/housing kit on eBay $10
Chrome seat binder bolt $5

$30 bucks into it so far...
I still need to a pair of tubulars since I had some parts left over from a Cilo Pacer I sold to American Pyscho and kept most of the entry level Campag drivetrain and tubular wheels. These will be my biggest chunk of cost for this project since I want cross tires as this will be my vintage gravel bike. Luckily I found some brand new Vittoria cross tires for a very reasonable price. Even after the tubulars I should still be under $100 with a little to pick up some new cloth bar tape and better brake pads on the Weinmann center pulls. I'll post pics tomorrow.

Bike Cottage

So far, I've completely done a grand total of nothing towards this years contest. I look forward to seeing the completed builds. Best of luck to all

jetboy 

first ride today! went about 1/4 of a mile. still no rear brake as I need a cable- which would set me back a whole $3 so I have been trying to figure out a way around it.

Black Beauty: total cost was around $30 - mostly by dumpster diving.

Steiner74

so is this supposed to be the cheapest/free build or the nicest least expensive build, or best build for buck. i did read the rules just a lil confused on what we are trying to accomplish. either way 25 bucks at the good will (god i love that place). i beleive its an 83 as thats where the s/n fall in but model no clue. it is super light trek. picked up last sat. and ill get a pic apparently my comp doesnt want to upload the pic right now

CliffordK

yes!

Steiner74

ok sweet ill get some pics up mannan

jetboy 

Yeah the rules are build a bike and try not to spend a lot of money. Then ride it. I shelled out the $3 for a new cable today. It will be the only thing bought specifically for this bike..and the only new thing in the whole build.

Pretty fun to do this as it made.me come up with somewhat whacky solutions for basic issues that would normally be solved by just buying the proper part. Ill show you how the feont brake works later. Its rigged as part of the front rack using a brace from the rear rack that i replaced with an L bracket. Works ok..loooks a bit odd. Free solution.

sonatageek

Picture coming soon on what I think will be my build. Picked up a $10 Hiawatha (Murray) mixte this past weekend - nothing says cheapo like something from Huffman Manufacturing.

Kobe 

@jetboy, disk brakes and down turned bull horns? You definitely are thinking outside the box.

My total cash outlay so far is $85, $50 for the frame and $35 for the fork. I think it looks much happier with the new fork and the it lines up with the headtube, so I'm happy. It was a scooch short though, I need a 310cm steerer and this is only 300. I'll have to locktite it on because I only have about 2 threads holding the locknut on.

Before


In progress